Shorthand typewriting machine



' 1945' J. L. STIXRUD I SHORTHAND 'TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHNL. STIXRWB,

INVENTQR I ATTORNEY? Oct. 1,- 1946. J. L. STIXRUD SHORTHAND TYPEW R ITI NG MACHINE Filed Jan. 1s, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN L STIXRUD,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1,

TED STATES ATEN F I I I f 72,408,453

SHORTHAND TYPEWRITING MACHINE 161 L. Stixrud, Los Angeles Calif.

Application January 13, 1945, Serial No. 572,588

ciples outlined in my co-pending application filed 'Novemlber 8, 1943, Ser. No. 509,514 but includes certain modifications and structural details by 1 to represent the missing let which a marked improvement-in the operation of the machine will be noted.-- The primary object of the present case resides in the simple yet eiiicient manner ofinitially selecting and then subsequently. printing the. se-

lected character upon the depression of-the charactered key.

A further object resides in the mechanical connections between the back keys and the movable printing members by which the printing -mem'bers are properly positioned upon the 'depression of the selectedkey.'

A still further object'of the inventionresides' in the novel manner of arranging the several of the desired characters and then to cause a printingof the character when the'key. is fully V g v V Another object of the invention resides in the depressed.

novel manner of coupling the action of two of said keys to accomplish the printing of certain characters. I r

A further object of the invention resides in the novel arrangement of letters and char'acters'to be I printed.

Theseand other objects will readily be presented to those skilled in this particular art, when of the machine, omittion,

Fig. 2 is a side new with as of the'frame.

broken awayto more clearlyillustrate some of the detailed parts of the mechanism,

of the spirit construc- V 25 keys on horizontal pivotswhereby a tilting action may be had to make the various selections:

v which actuate them. 2

Fig. 3 is'a sectionalview taken on line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 a

Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing an exaggerated forward position of thepivotal connections between the printing members and the parts Referring more in detail to the drawings, 10 designates side frame plates, each having .leg

portions llll by which the machine is supported. Each leg may be offset as'at I2 with anaperture 13 therein to which'rubber cushions or e t may be fastened. I Y

."Rotatably. mounted between the frame plates l0 at the far end of the machine is a platen M which supports the paper or other strip material upon which the printing is to be accom-' plished. Directly in front of the platen I4 is a series of printing members 22, each having an.

arcuate. face, bearing type characters designated l5, l6,- II, l 8 and I9. These printing members are actuated'from keys positioned at the front of the machine'through the medium of longitudinallyextendingconnecting' bar members. In view of the fact that-eachprinting member is actuated in alikemanner a description of the operation of one will be sufficientfor a clear understanding of the complete operation of the ma- 7 chine;

Each printing member is pivotally connected by means of Pins Hand 22 to the upper ends of arms 23 and 24 respectively. Pin 22 works in a vertically disposed slot 22a in the arm 24. The

purpose of the slot 22a is topermit. the arm .24 to move at a, slower speed than the arm 23. As will be noted the arm 24 is slightly longer than the arm 23, this being for a purpose-hereinafter described. The arm 23 has a forwardly extending finger,v 25 while the arm 24 has a slightly longer finger '26. Each finger and arm construction just described constitutes a bell crank lever which is pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 21 supported between the frame plates Ill-all].

' A cross rod 28 is also mounted within thev side frame plates. Ill-l0 and is spaced forwardly in parallel relation to thecross shaft 21. Pivotally mounted on the cross rod 28 are a series of pairs of key bars, said :bars beingv designated ;29-.;3fl.

Each bar 29-30 has a relatively short finger ex-,

I tension'as shown at 3| and 32 respectively. The

finger 32 ,which'connects with the, finger 26 is slightlylshorter than 3| in order to impart a slower motion-.to the arm. and thus cause a horizontal movement of the printing member 20.

3 when the pair of key bars- 29-30 are rocked simultaneously.

Attached to the upper portion of each of the arms 23 and 2A is a spring 33 and 33a, the oppo site end of each spring being respectively fastened to the hooks 3d and 3411. which are carried by a cross bar 35. The tension of the springs Sit-33a results in the return of the operating bars to their normal set position after each operation. The key. bars are limitedi'n' their return movement by a pad element 36 which is carried by the cross support 51.

The pivotally mounted bell crank levers. on I the cross shaft 2! are separated by spacers-38 and also the bar elements which are pivotally supported on the cross rod 28 are separated by spacers t9. I I v r The key bars 29 and 33 each have a T shaped arm extending upwardly from their forward end. The adjacent inner endsof these arms are arranged. in' overlapping relation as suggested at 40 and lea. The opposite ends of these-Tarms are formed with a bevelled upper surface M lla. The medial portions of these T arms have a flat surface as indicated at ll-42a, Key plates d-tfla are pivotally attached as suggested at id-4M to the T arms so that they normally rest on the flat surfaces Q242a.. The under surface of each key plate 43-4341 which overhangs the bevelled surfaces it-Ma may be padded with a sound reducing material; The overlapping ends Ail-fella extend beneath the key plates 43a and 43 of the opposite key bar.

As will be noted from the illustrationsuggested in Fig. 1 the key plates stand 3311 are attached to the upper ends of the key bars 29 and El] and are arranged in two rows, designated A and B. In advance of these rows A and B there is also shown a third row as indicated at C. These last mentioned keys are coupled together transversely instead of longitudinally as suggested in keys A and B, but their action is practically the same in the operation of the typing members.

The key bars leading to the keys in row C are designated Alfi4l. The forward ends of these barshave an upwardly extended portion 48 upon which a key 49 is pivotally mounted atp lrt. The

upper: surface of't'h'e portion l8 forward of'the,

pivot'is bevelled as at 58.

The bar 46 has an angular extending arm '51 while the bar 61 is bent as indicated at 52. The keys are each provided with a forwardly pro jecting arm 53 which extends over the angular arm 5! and the bent portion 52. The bar 41 is widened at 54 with a flange 55 at the upper end and a flange 55 at the lower edge, as shown in Fig. 3. The bar it has aninwardly directed bearing 51 which is positioned medially between the flanges 55 and. 55.

The general operation of the-machine is as follows: The initial movement of the key bars merely causes a movement of the printing member to select the character to be printed and the final downward portion of the bar movement collples the adjacent bar to'cause a forward movement of the printing member which results in the printing of the character. A more detailed description of the operation is as follows.

Any of the characters in the first line of row A of the keys may be printed by depressing the key plate at a point directly above-the charac. ter. This results in the pivotal movement of the key plate and when the plate contacts with'thei bevelled surface of the key bar, that particularkey bar starts downward movement which causes thumb or finger .the character I, which is.

the printing member to swing on the pivot 2! until the printing character l5 moves into the printing position. The continued downward movement of the key bar causes'the underside of the key plate to contact with the underlying part 49 of the adjacent bar and therefore couples both bars 29 and 30 in their action which results in the printing of the selected character.

The printing of any of the characters in the second line of the row A of keys is accomplished by'pressing on the key over the selected character. The initial portion of the downward movement of the key bar swings the printing plate to move the printing character it into printing position. The key plate then contacts the underlying portion 40 of the adjacent key bar and the final portion of the downward movement of the key bar results in the forward printing movement of the selected character.

When pressure is applied to two keys at their d acent inn r ed es b t y bars a e actuated uni on w c ul s n th P int of the.

harae er 1. o e p nt n ember.

Theprinting of the characters the'line 2 cf. row. 13 33, L, ci -a c mpli hed byp-- crating the keys. in 'just the same manner as.

that described in connection with line i of row A an e u t in t p inting f th chara ter at [9 being printed, and the printing 'of the Char-1*;

sters i in I .of row 3 (F. C, t -i is by he ame a t o as th t d cr be n ia 1 with line 2 of row A and results inthe printing character at is being printed. I y

The printing of the characters on row C of the key plates" will now be described. To print the a acter U the perator presses on the ke plate over this character. The initial portion of the downward movement of the key bar swingsthe printing plate to move the printing character it into printing position. The arm .53 then contacts the arm 5| and the final portion of the down ward movement of the key bar results in the forward printing movement of the selected character. ,The application of pressure over the Y character results in the selection andfinal printing of. thecharacter' .on line 16 of the printing member. p

Pressure on. the key plateover the character A will cause the'key 'pla-te to tip liftingthe arm into a higher position above the arm 5L1 The purpose of the tipping-is to get the arm out of the Wayto permitthe key bars to be operative lyconnected by means of the flanges 55- and to and the bearing 51. Thus when the pressure is app ied over the character A the key ar will move downward causing the printing member to move the printing character l9 into printing position. The flange 55 then contacts the bearing 5! .of the adjacent k y bar and the nal p i of the movement of the k y ar r ults n th 01"- ard p inting movem nt f the elected haracter. The applicationof pressure above the character E will cause the bearing El to move downward causing the letter'which appears in .line lion the printing memberto move into rinting position. The bearing 5'! new contacts the flange 5.6 of the adj ent keybar and the printing of the selected character-results. When both keys are pressed by straddling them with a arwill the ranged in line H on the printing member be impressed against the paper strip on platen.

In a shorthand machine equipped with my key- .board where a multiple selective pri ting is ac.-

complished by the .co-action of two keypla'tes certain requirements mustbe met in the arrange-' ment of the letters, numerals and characters toinsure easeof operation and a simple. method of writing. .As a'plurality of types are attached to method of arrangement has been carried out throughout the keyboard. 1, To promote ease" of writing awkward finger positions must be avoided. Letters appearing in'the extreme rows should not be printed at the same time. The first row is therefore reserved for numerals. The letters in the fifth row seldom if ever appear in combinations with letters in the second row. The letters most frequently used and which form combina-.

tions are found in the three central rows and require only a slight movement of the fingers in operation. The fifth key unit from the left is not used in phonetic writing to avoid unnecessary movement of the left hand. The two units of keys reserved for the vowels are so arranged that a complete series of vowel sounds can be expressed, removing any chance of misreading a word.

What I desire to claim is:

1. In a shorthand typing machine consisting of a plurality of printing members each having a series of printing characters, each of said printing members having a pair of pivoting points placed vertically one above the other and wherein the upper of said pivoting points consists of a" Vertically disposed slot, a plurality of actuat ing bars arranged in pairs with a printing member therebetween, one of said bars of a pair being pivotally connected by a pin to said printing member at one of said pivoting points and the other bar of said pair being pivotally connected by a pin to said printing member at the other of said pivot points, said pins and said pair of pivoting points constituting a coacting connection between each printing member and its pair of associated actuating bars whereby each bar acts as a shift key in its initial movement and as a printing bar in its final movement, and means for actuating either one of said bars to select one of the characters on the printing member and for then rocking said key bars simultaneously to subsequently move the printing member forward to print the selected character.

2. In a shorthand typing machine consisting of a plurality of printing members each having a series of printing characters, each of said printing members having a pair of pivoting points placed vertically one above the other and wherein the upper of said pivoting points consists of a vertically disposed slot, a plurality of actuating key bars arranged in pairs with a printing member therebetween, one of said bars of a pair being pivotally connected by a pin to said printing member at one of said pivoting points and the other bar of said pair being pivotally connected by a pin to said printing member at the other of said pivot points, said pinsand said pair of pivoting points constituting a coacting connection between each printing member and its pair of associated actuating key bars whereby each bar acts as a shift ke in its initial movement and as printing bar in its final movement, and means for actuating either one of said bars to select one of the characters on the printing member and then, actuating bothof said bars simultaneously to subsequently movev the. printing member forward to print the selected character, said printing member and said pair of actuatingbars being, so constructed and arranged that theinitial actuating ofsaid one of said bars causes aslower motion .of said printing member than the subsequent motion moving the printing member forward to printing position.

3. In a machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of printing members each bearing a series of printing characters, a pair of actuating levers each having a pivotal con nection with a printing member arranged there- 'between whereinone pivotal connection is verticallyspaced-above the other, a pair ofkey bars each operatively connected to one of said actuating levers. and a plurality of keys coupled in pairs to actuate the key bars first individually to cause an initial selection and then jointly to cause a final printing of the characters on said printing member.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 and, said keys and key bars being constructed and arranged in such a manner that an overlapping connection is provided between one key bar and the key of the other key bar.

5. The subject matter of claim 3 and, the bars comprising, each pair of key bars having an overlapping connection for joint action after a predetermined movement of one of said bars.

6. In a typing machine consisting of a plurality of printing members each having a series of characters peripherally spaced on its surface, a plurality of actuating levers arranged in pairs with a printing member therebetween, said levers being independently pivotally connected to said printing membenand means for actuating one of said levers to select one of the characters on the printing member and then actuating all of said levers to subsequently move the printing member forward to print the selected character, the pivotal connections between said levers and printing member being spaced one above the other and the pivot of one pivotal connection occupying a vertically disposed slot.

7. In a machine of the kind described, comprising a plurality of printing members each bearing a series of printing characters, a pair of levers an arm of each of which has a pivotal connection with a printing member arranged therebetween, the pivotal connection between one arm and the printing member being vertically arranged above the other pivotal connection between the other arm and the printing member, a pair of key bars each having a connection with a finger of one of said levers, and a plurality of keys coupled in pairs to actuate the key bars and in turn the levers individually through the medium of' said fingers to cause an initial selection and then jointly to cause a final printing of the characters on said printing member.

8. The subject matter of claim 7 and, said keys and key bars being constructed and arranged in such a manner that an overlapping connection is provided between one key bar and the key of the other key bar.

/ 9. The subject matter of claim 7, and said key bars each having an overlapping connection for joint action after a predetermined movement of one of said bars.

10.- In amachine of the kind described, comprising a platen, a plurality of printing members each provided with a, plurality of types arranged in a vertical position facingsaid platen and movable in a horizontal direction to cause said types to print on paper supported by said platen, said printing members each having two independent pivot points a line drawn through which extends parallel to the printing line of said types, a pair of key bars, a plurality of keys coupled in pairs to actuate the key bars individually or jointly to initially select and subsequently print one of the types on said printing member, and connecting means between said key bars and each printing member to perform the function ascribed to actuation of the key bars, said connecting means comprising a pair of bell crank levers one of which has an arm pivoted at one of said pivot chine whereby transverse parallel 11. In a shorthand typing machine consisting of .a plurality of printing members each bearing a series of printing characters, a plurality of key bars arranged in pairs and connected to said printing members, the bars in each pair having an overlapping connection for joint action after a predetermined movement of one of said bars, and key members associated with each key bar, said key members being arranged in a parallel closely spaced relation transversely of the maadjacent edges thereof may be simultaneously depressed at their midlength portions by a finger of the operator to cause the printing of one of the charpoints and the other of which has an arm piv- 5 acters of the associated printing member.

oted at the other of said pivot points.

JOHN L. STIXRUD. 

